Quick answer: Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators are one of the most stress-exposed occupations in Australia — ranked #27 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 55.8/100 against a national average of 47.4. The biggest drivers are pace and demands and lack of control.
Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demands29.7 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden67 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands74.7 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control42.5 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony69.4 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment51.8 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for paper and wood processing machine operators
Compared with the average Australian occupation, paper and wood processing machine operators score furthest above the norm on pace and demands (74.7 vs 56 average), lack of control (42.5 vs 24.5 average) and physical environment (51.8 vs 38.2 average). The single biggest individual stress factor is sounds and noise levels are distracting or uncomfortable at 97.2/100 — against an all-occupation average of 52.3.
The occupation scores below the national average for emotional demands (29.7 vs 37.9), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for paper and wood processing machine operators
- 1Physical environment
Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable
97.2/100
All-occupation average: 52.3
- 2Pace and demands
Frequency of Decision Making
85.5/100
All-occupation average: 70.7
- 3Responsibility burden
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
83.2/100
All-occupation average: 57.3
- 4Pace and demands
Time Pressure
81.8/100
All-occupation average: 71.6
- 5Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
78.2/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
All 22 stress factors for paper and wood processing machine operators
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
29.7 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People3.8 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People37.5 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations47.8 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
67 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results62 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety83.2 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results78.2 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error48.5 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others63 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
74.7 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure81.8 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week65 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment77.8 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making85.5 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition63.2 vs 52.4
Lack of control
42.5 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions39.2 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work45.8 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
69.4 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks60.8 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate78 vs 78.6
Physical environment
51.8 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable97.2 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting38.5 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures59.5 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections3.2 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity60.5 vs 61.1
Understand these hazards
The elevated stress categories for paper and wood processing machine operators map to recognised psychosocial work factors under ISO 45003 and Australian WHS legislation. Learn what each one is and how it can be controlled:
- Work Demands →The volume, pace, and complexity of what is asked of workers.
- Role Clarity →Whether workers clearly understand what is expected of them.
- Leadership →The quality and consistency of management behaviour at all levels.
- Schedule and Hours →The arrangement of working time and its effect on health and recovery.
- Autonomy →The degree of control workers have over how they do their work.
- Learning and Stimulation →Whether work offers enough challenge, variety, and opportunity for growth.
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
Two control-related variables are reported by SafeWork with inverted polarity (“freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”). We reverse these and present them as lack of autonomy to make decisions and amount of highly structured work, so that a higher score consistently indicates greater stress exposure.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators: how stressful is the job?
Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators rank #27 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 55.8/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 91.5% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for paper and wood processing machine operators?
The highest-scoring hazards are sounds and noise levels are distracting or uncomfortable (97.2/100), frequency of decision making (85.5/100) and responsible for others' health and safety (83.2/100). Overall, the occupation scores above the national average in responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony and physical environment.
Which stress factors are lower for paper and wood processing machine operators?
Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators score below the national average for emotional demands (29.7 vs 37.9 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for paper and wood processing machine operators. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.